The government's plan to supply gas from Bhola gas field by June has ushered a new hope to the industrial factories of Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
The gas distribution from the coastal district of Bhola to Khulna via Barisal will also start in May or June in the form of CNG.
Basically, the government will supply this gas to industrial establishments, according to sources. This will bring some relief to the industrial factories of Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj.
According to Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (Bapex), at present there are 120 million gas in five wells in Shahbazpur and Borhan Uddin in Bhola.
Total gas production capacity will be 140 to 150 million cubic feet when another 20 million gas will be added from the latest Tobgi gas field.
Meanwhile, Bhola North can produce 20 to 25 million gas from well number one, Bhola North-two will also add about 20 million gas.
Well number-3 will be drilled in Elisha.
BAPEX expects that it will also add around 20 million gas.
BAPEX Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Ali said that Bhola's Shahbazpur and Borhanuddin gas fields had reserves of one and a half TCF (trillion cubic feet).
It will be possible to say that there are gas reserves of about two TCF when gas will added from Bhola north and Elisha, said the BAPEX official.
Of this, 70 to 80 million cubic feet of gas remains unused even after meeting the local demand.
The gas from Bhola gas fields could not be supplied outside due to lack of pipeline. Now it is being processed to supply gas by the government in the form of CNG or through pipelines.
Md Kamruzzaman, director of Petrobangla (operation) said that it is planned to supply gas from Bhola in two ways. Initially through CNG, pipelines are also being considered in the long run. Bhola gas will be brought to Khulna via Barisal through the pipeline.
Feasibility study has been completed in this regard.
“It is now awaiting approval. And if the proposal to bring it in CNG form is approved this month, it may take two months to build the infrastructure. As such, we can get the first phase of gas in May-June,” said the Petrobangla official.
Basically a cascade system is being planned to use the gas from Bhola in the form of CNG. A cascade is a high pressure gas cylinder storage system consisting of many smaller cylinders. They are refilled with compressors and transported to other areas. Then, the gas is distributed to different areas.
According to Petrobangla, several companies have given proposals to bring gas from Bhola.
Among these, Intraco Refueling Station Limited has offered to convert 25 million cubic feet of gas per day to CNG in a joint venture with Germany's Linde PLC.
Apart from this, Parker Bangladesh Limited has proposed to convert 23.34 million cubic feet, Howladar Bangladesh Limited 26.67 million and Super Gas Limited 4 million gas to CNG.
A committee of five members headed by Director (Operation) of Petrobangla Md Kamruzzaman has been formed to finalize this process of bringing gas in the form of CNG.
They are now negotiating the gas price with interested companies, according to sources.
Among them, the name of Intraco is being heard more.
The committee recommended that initially five million cubic feet and later another 20 million cubic feet of gas can be supplied to industrial establishments in different parts of the country through cascade cylinders.
